Body of missing Sterling Heights kayaker found

Oliver Woodrow Dixon III of Sterling Heights recently posted on Facebook this photograph of him trying out his new kayak. On Sunday, his body was recovered under the vessel in the Clinton River in what investigators believe was a tragic accident.

The body of a kayaker from Sterling Heights who had been missing for three days was recovered Sunday afternoon underneath a log jam on the Clinton River in Shelby Township, according to police.

Oliver Woodrow Dixon III, 47, a father of three, had been missing since Thursday when he apparently put his kayak in the water at River Bends Boat Launch near Ryan Road and 22 Mile Road. He had planned to take part in a weekend kayak event in Utica and never showed up.

Following a 2-day hunt, his body was located under his new kayak about 5 p.m. Sunday by a civilian who was helping the search effort in an area being searched between the boat launch and Heritage Park in Utica.

“Our hearts are breaking,” said Shelby Township police Sgt. Scott Trumbo. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, especially at this time on Father’s Day. We truly wish we had a better outcome to announce.”

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A number of friends and relatives had been in the area all of Sunday conducting their own search of a wooded area while first responders focused on the river.

A search team comprised of the Shelby Township police and fire departments, along with Sterling Heights police and the Macomb County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol who had been looking for Dixon responded to the area where the body had been found. Divers from the sheriff’s office and Shelby Township Fire Department entered the water and recovered it.

A kayak paddle was found a short time before the body was located.

Authorities routinely caution kayakers about the speed of the current in the Clinton River, particularly after a heavy rainfall. The river had been rising following heavy downpours earlier this week.

Dixon’s girlfriend, Laurie Houle, told reporters Dixon planned to take part in a kayak race at Heritage Park this past weekend.

“I think he might have thought he was a little better than he was” at navigating the fast-moving river waters “and got caught up in it”, Houle said.

Earlier Sunday, his daughter, Olivia Dixon posted a message on Facebook indicating the family had found his car parked by River Bends with his phone and wallet inside, but there was no sign of the kayak.

An avid athlete, Dixon had posted photos of his new blue and white vessel on Facebook on June 7 with the caption: “Getting to know the new ride. Going to take some getting used to, but can’t wait to see what I can do with it.”

Police said the Macomb County Medical Examiner’s Office was going to conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause and manner of death as the investigation into what appears to be an accidental death winds down.